Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not understand it. Where is the double compensation? As far as I can see, what is being proposed is that if people are unfairly dismissed they go to the tribunal and get appropriate compensation, but while they are waiting to get that compensation they will not have a job and they will get paid social welfare. The amendment requires the employers who unfairly dismissed them to repay the social welfare payments to the Department and the taxpayers of the country, who paid out the money because the employers acted unfairly in the first place. I do not understand the double compensation. At present, social welfare is not taken into account in calculating an award and why would the Minister want to change this?